April School Stuff

Quinny, ready to start the day at school

-Ever since Spring break, the stuff going on at school has been bonkers!  It's all good stuff, but bonkers!

Here are just a few things from the past few weeks:

Millie joined the track team at school and had her first track meet.  She joined mostly so she could get conditioned for soccer.  It only cost $15.00 and it involved staying after school and running with friends.  Win-win. 

At her first track meet, somehow she didn't get the memo about running the inside of the track...not in the most outside lane! 

 At the start (she is on the left):                                                         After one lap:

She did great, but let's just say that running too long in the outside lane wore her out quick!

Go Millie!  Bonus* She got some cute cheap track team sweats :)

Then there is the Kindy 500.  This is where the kids (parents) make cars out of a box and the kids "drive" around the country to different stations learning about America's famous monuments.  They also perform some patriotic songs and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Quincy designed her car.  She wanted a butterfly car that was blue with yellow and purple polka dots and pink wings.  And the #36 for her race car number.  36 because that is how old Mom is.

 Oops, she got in a car crash during the car parade and lost a wing.  So we broke off the other wing and then she was good to go again.  Good thing I'm a mechanic.

And then it was "Dads and Donuts."  But on this day it had to be "Mom and Donuts" because BS had something important at work.  But BS has never missed a Dads and Donuts day in 8 years so we let him off the hook.  This was my first time and I really enjoyed hanging out with my Sambo and eating yummy donuts.  I love this little stud so much! 

I was Breckon's "Substitute Dad" as well

And then there is the RIDGELINE RUN.

This is always fun for the kids.  BS got to go this year and cheer them on.

Will and his Posse: Kai, Xander, Will, Isaac, Matt, Mason

Quincy ran her guts out!

Her pal Connor

His pal Seth

 Then, Will's class performed an OPERA written entirely by them...3rd graders!

The words and the music. And it was fantastic!

Will was "Wreck it Ralph" and his friend Jack was "Fix it Felix." 

He actually sang and acted out his part - not too cool yet :)

 

Chitty

Uncle Shad surprised us with tickets to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Hale Theatre!

Only Grandma, Aunt Heidi, me, and the cousins 6 and up were allowed to go.  It was a great opportunity for me to introduce the kids to this movie, which I hadn't seen since I was a child.  Over Spring break we found it on Netflix and had the kids watch it so they would know the story before going to see the musical.  I didn't think I remembered anything about it until I started hearing the songs...then I totally did!  I had forgotten how fun the songs are...both the words and the melodies. Super catchy!  We were singing the songs for days and sometimes still are :)

"Toot, Sweet!" and "Bang bang chitty chitty bang bang" and "Old Bamboo" and "POSH" 

Anyway, we LOVED this production.  LOVED!  Everyone of us.  Even my boys.  I look for opportunities to take my kids to the theatre and I am very grateful to Shad for planning this fun evening!

Last Chance

In mid-April we took the kids skiing again at Snowbird.  It was our last chance until next Winter.

Millie had some very important teenage plans so she didn't come.  She was missed.  But, we still had a nice day of skiing.  I wouldn't say it was awesome, because it was windy and icy, but skiing -even under these conditions- is still fun.

On the lift with my boys

They love the tunnel!

At the top of the Tram looking at King's Peak

BS and Quin

-On a different note...

Last month I spent a few days sorting through my baby clothes. I had a lot. I mean, a lot.  It took hours. We are tired of storing and moving storage bins filled with baby clothes that we don't need anymore.  I heard about this awesome confinement sale at the Methodist church so I gave it a go.  Heidi and Mom helped too.  It was the last chance for these clothes before going to the D.I.  So many of them were like new and still so cute!  The sale was only for Spring/Summer clothes and I only made it through the girl's cloths.  Still have a bunch of bins left (winter and boys) but it's all I could stand to go through.  In the end, it was totally worth it!  I am happy that I made money and also that someone else is enjoying those cute baby clothes. The best thing was that I just dropped off the stuff and picked it up 2 days later...I didn't have to stay and sell it.  I filled 2 rounders and it's not even counting the box full of shoes and socks.

Thanks Mom for helping with all of this stuff!!!

Spring Break at East Canyon Retreat

Sambo on his new bike.  The boys were getting some "big air" on the jump :)  Of course, loading 10 kids on the 4-wheeler is always a favorite!  And Millie spent hours on the motorcycle and 4-wheeler.  So fun.

 Last month we got to take 5 whole days off from school for Spring break!

It started the day after Easter, so we were already up at the cabin.  The plan was to spend a couple of days up there while BS worked, then we were going to go down St. George or maybe even Lake Powell (and stay on the slip). 

Well, after 2 days the kids didn't want to go anywhere - they wanted to stay put right there at the cabin!  Two days later I asked them what they wanted to do and they STILL wanted to stay at the cabin.  We offered to take the kids to town to do some fun activities but they took a pass.

Among other things, we rode motorcycles and 4-wheelers, caught lots of fish, flew kites, played games, jumped on the tramp, went exploring, went panning for gold, watched movies, played the Wii, practiced baseball in the field, and had fun with cousins!  For me, it was fabulous because I could spend all week with my Mom and Sister while the kids played all day.  Even Millie was as content as could be - not worrying about what her friends were doing.  BS came up Wednesday night and spent the rest of the week as well. 

One day, the boys went skiing with their friends the Oakley boys while the girls went shopping at City Creek.  Seriously, the week couldn't have been better.  It was easy and it was fun and it was relaxing.  Just what we needed.  We usually go out of town for Spring break but this year, going to the cabin was the right move for us.  Heck, the cabin is a vacation!  I am convinced this place has been the best thing for our family, both growing up and now.

The weather cooperated for the most part.  A couple of rainy days.  But finally, a perfect sunny and breezy day.
 Flying kites was a blast!

Catching lots of fish!  Mostly Rainbows, but we did catch 1 Brown trout.  Cousin Cole caught the biggest...it was GIANT!  Chops just sat for hours on the banks and watched the fish swimming around.

I managed to get a bike ride in.  This is in the morning at East Canyon.  I have missed this.

 Will was determined, once again, to find some gold.  He brought his pan and pick.  BS took the kids up the creek a bit and they searched...but no gold.  Better luck next time!

Picnic at the Park

I took these pictures exactly one month ago.  It was a warm, sunny, beautiful day.  Until yesterday, those kinds of days have been sparce.  It has been chilly and windy.  Boo.  But let's focus on the positive: we have a fantastic park right by our house!  It is so awesome!

Quincy, her friend Megan and I had a picnic at the park and just soaked in the sunshine for hours.  

Yay for these kind of days!

President Clark

Millie went for it.  She ran for 8th grade President...

... And she won!!!

From the school website announcing the winners:

Congratulations Millie! 

We are so proud of you and so glad that the students and teachers can see your potential!

Picture that hangs on the wall at school 

Spongebob and a haircut

Somebody got a new hair-do!  Isn't it adorable?

I have been wanting to chop her hair for a long time, but thanks to Rapunzel in "Tangled," she has wanted very long hair.  The trouble is, she doesn't have long, thick hair.  She was blessed with fine hair that that doesn't grow well.  Of course she doesn't know that.  In fact, she believed her hair was getting really long.  While I love to braid, twist, and pull her hair up in pony tails and pig tails, I also know that her hair will grow back even better if I keep it short for awhile.  So,  I took her to get a haircut.  I'm doing her a favor for later, right?  I didn't force her, I just asked her about once/month if she was ready to get a haircut.  Then last month, she answered yes! 

I love short cuts on little girls.  I really do.  Millie's hair was short at this age too.

Curling her short hair is very easy quick and I love her natural highlights:

And just for fun, here is her picture from tumbling (pre-haircut).  Those splits are impressive!

On a different note, I found these little drawings all over the house the other day.  Apart, they didn't look like much.  Just scribbles.  But once I put them together, I discovered a masterpiece collection of Spongebob Squarepants characters!  Is it a bad thing that my 6 year old daughter loves Spongebob?

Mr. Krabs:

Gary:

 

Patrick:

Spongbob:

Squidward:

Plankton:

 

Sandy: